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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO VEDANTA The word “Vedanta” literally means the end [anta] of the Vedas. It is considered to be one of the most complete systems in Indian philosophy. Ordinarily it refers to the Upanishads, which were the concluding part of the Vedic literature. The Upanishads speak of the mystical experience of the sages, which were later on formulated into speculative thought. Historically one can speak of three periods in Vedanta. The first period is the creative presentation of the Upanishads. The next period consists of the systematisation and harmonisation of the Upanishadic teaching represented by the Brahma Sutras. And finally the third stage consists in the exposition, elaboration and diversification by the commentaries on the Brahma Sutras. We shall say a word about each of these periods. First phase The Upanishads came to be written Second Phase The Systematisation of the Upanishads through the Sutras Third Phase The Commentaries on the Sutras were written by various theologians The Upanishads hold that the ultimate reality could not be comprehended through logical reasoning. True knowledge consists in the direct experience of the ultimate reality. Thus in the Upanishads we see a shift in